Self-locking container



Nov. 15, 1938. v A. sT. ARNAULD 2,137,033

SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Filed April 5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l a; a: W W

B w 4 33 r 42 4/ 74 4471/ U ATTORNEY.

15, 1938- A. ST. ARNAULD SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Filed April 3, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 15, 1938. A. ST. ARNAULD SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Filed April 3, 193

6 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY V4 2% g I a ZTORNE Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESELF-LOCKING CONTAINER Albert St. Arnauld, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,526 2 Claims. (01. 232-41) Myinvention relates to improvements in a self Fig. 21, an endview of thecatch member dislocking container for milk, groceries, and similarclosed in Fig. 20; Fig. 22, an end view of the materials and it is theprincipal object of my incatch member disclosed in Fig. 20; Fig. 23, aside vention to provide such a container which autoview of one of thebrackets for supporting the matically locks itself upon the disposal ofcomtreadle of the lock operating mechanism dis- 5 modities therein so asto prevent subsequent unclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and Fig. 24, a bottom viewauthorized removal of the commodities. of the bracket disclosed in Fig.23; Fig. 25, a side It is a further object of my invention to proview ofthe pedal crankshaft of the lock operatvide improved means for lockingsuch a container ing mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

10 against unauthorized entry together with means Similar numerals referto similar parts 10 for unlocking the mechanism. throughout the severalviews.

These improvements are embodied in the Figure 1 discloses one of my selflocking conmechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawtainers Ainstalled in a building structure I, such ings, in which:-- as aresidence or similar building structure, to

Figure 1 is a side View of my self locking conpermit such commodities asmilk, groceries, or 15 tainer installed in a house or similar buildingsimilar goods, to be delivered to the inmates of structure and adjacenta door thereof; Fig. 2, a the residence or similar building structurewith side View of the self locking container with its out danger ofhaving the commodities unlawfully door in an open position; Fig. 3, asectional view removed or stolen from the self locking conof selflocking container taken on the line 3-3, tainer A. 20 Fig. 2, saidsectional view disclosing said door The self locking container A isdisclosed as in a closed position; Fig. 4, a sectional view of beinginstalled adjacent the casing 2 of the door the self locking containertaken on the line 4-4, 3 and positioned above the floor 4 of the porchFig. 3; Fig. 5, a partial sectional view of the self 5, the constructionof the self locking container 26 looking container taken on the line5-5, Fig. 3; A, however, permitting its location at any de- Fig. 6, apartial sectional view of the self locking sired heighth or positionrelative to the building container taken on the line B6, Fig. 3; Fig.'7, a structure I. partial sectional view of the self locking con- Alsoit is to be understood that the self locking tainer taken on the lineFig. 6; Fig. 8, a parcontainer A may be constructed and marketed as tialplan view of an alternative lock operating an accessory unit or it maybe constructed as an 30 mechanism for the container together with aintegral part of a building structure, as desired. partial horizontalsectional view of the contain- The self locking container A is providedwith er; Fig. 9, a side view of the lock operating mechthe .side walls 6and 1, the bottom wall or floor anism disclosed in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, anend view of 8, the upper wall 9, together with the outside the lockoperating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8 door I ll and the inside door Il. 35 and 9; Fig. 11, a side view of one of the brackets The outsidedoor 10 is connected to and supfor supporting a treadle crankshaft ofthe lock ported from the side wall 6 by the hinges I2, the operatingmechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and outside door I0 being accessible,from the out- 10; Fig. 12, a plan view of the bracket disclosed side ofthe building structure I, to permit a milkin Fig. 11; Fig. 13, an endview of the bracket man, delivery man, or'similar operator to place 40disclosed in Fig. 11; Fig. 14, a side view of the commodities in theself locking container A withlock plunger mechanism disclosed in Figs.8, 9, out bothering the inmates of the building strucand 10; Fig. 15, asectional view of the lock ture I. plunger mechanism disclosed in Fig.14, said sec- The inside door II is connected to and suptional viewbeing taken on the line l5-l5, Fig. ported from the side wall 6 by thehinges 13, the 45 14; Fig. 16, a plan view of a bracket forsupportinside door H being accessible, from the interior ing one end ofthe treadle crankshaft of the lock of the building structure I, topermit the inoperating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and matesthereof to remove the commodities, at 10; Fig. 17, a side view of thebracket disclosed their convenience, from the self locking container inFig. 16; Fig. 18, a side view of a connecting A and without leaving thebuilding structure I. 50

link of the lock operating mechanism disclosed The outside doors H andI2 may be constructin Figs. 8, 9 and 10; Fig. 19, an edge view of the edto extend for the total depth of the self lockconnecting link disclosedin Fig. 18; Fig. 20, a ing container A or they may extend for only afront View of a catch member of the lock operportion of the depth of theself locking container ating mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and 10; Ain which case front and rear walls I4, 15 and 55 I8 will be respectivelyprovided, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 4, with the door openings l6 andI1 therein, Fig. 4 omitting the inside door I I therefrom.

The outside door I0 is provided with the handle or knob I9 and theinside door I I is provided with the handle or knob 28, said handles orknobs l9 and 28 extending through the doors and being respectivelyriveted over as at 2| and 22.

The outside door I0 is provided with the housing 23 in which is slidablymounted the plunger or catch 24, said plunger or catch 24 being actuatedin one direction by the spring or resilient member 25, the plunger orcatch 24 being provided with the bevel or angular surface 26 togetherwith the shouldered portion 21 to limit the outward movement of theplunger or catch 24 by suitable engagement with a shouldered portion ofthe housing 23 which is secured to the outside door In by the rivets orbolts 28, the plunger or catch 24 being disclosed, in Figs. 6 and '1, inits maximum outward position.

The interior of the self locking container A is divided into the twochambers 29 and 38 by the wall or partition 3|.

The treadle or platform 32 is located in the chamber 29 and is pivotallysupported on the bottom wall or floor 8 by the hinges 33, the treadle 32being disclosed in its normal position at the uppermost end of itstravel in Fig. 4, the treadle 32 being normally maintained in itsuppermost position by the spring or resilient member 34 which isprovided with the cylindrical shaped end 35 for slidably engaging theunder side of the treadle 32, the spring 34 being provided with a flange36 which is secured to the bottom wall 8 by the rivets or screws 31.

The treadle 32 is also provided with the bracket 38 which is suitablysecured to the underside of the treadle 32 and provides the opening 39between the bracket 38 and the treadle 32 for receiving the curved end48 of the crank shaft 4| which is rotatably mounted in the brackets 42which are secured to the bottom wall 8 by the rivets or screws 43.

The curved end 40 of the crank shaft 4| extends through the opening 39and is adapted to be moved by the treadle 32 from the position asindicated by the dotted lines 44 in Fig. 2 to the position as indicatedby the dotted lines 45 in Fig. 2, the treadle 32 being moved from theposition as indicated in Fig, 4 to a lowermost position adjacent thebottom wall 8 of the self locking container A, the curved end 40 tendingto slide longitudinally of the space 39 to accommodate pivotal movementof the treadle 32.

As the treadle 32 is moving downwardly to move the curved end 40 of thecrank shaft 4| from the position indicated by the dotted lines 44 inFig. 2 to the position indicated by the dotted lines 45, the arm 46 ofthe crank shaft 4| will move from its position as indicated by the fulllines in Fig. 2 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 41which will move the rod 48 and cause the bell crank 49 to move from theposition as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 6 to the positionindicated by the dotted lines 50 in Fig. 6, which will in turn cause therod 5| to move the latch plate 52 from the position as indicated by thefull lines in Fig. 6 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 53in Fig. 6 and in which position the boss 54 of the latch plate 52 willhave been moved upwardly to a position behind the end of the plunger 24as indicated by the dotted lines 56 in Fig. 6, thus preventing theoutside door I0 from being opened due to the engagement of the boss 54with the plunger 24.

The arm 46 of the crank shaft 4| is pivotally connected to the rod 48 at51, the rod 48 being further pivotally connected at 58 to the lower armof the bell crank 49.

The bell crank 49 is pivotally mounted on the pin or shaft 59 and hasits upper arm pivotally connected at 60 to the rod 5|, the rod 5| beingpivotally connected at 6| to the latch plate 52.

The latch plate 52 is provided with the slots 62 for engaging the screwsor rivets 62A which are suitably supported in the Wall portion I8 of theself locking container A, the screws or rivets 62A thus guiding thelatch plate 52 in its movement.

The crank shaft 4| is further provided with the bent arm portion 63which is adapted to engage the bottom wall 8 when the treadle 32 is inits normal and uppermost position, thus insuring that the treadle 32will not move to a position above that disclosed in Fig. 4.

The outside door I0 is provided with the spring or resilient member 64which is pivotally con nected at 65 to the outside door I0 and at 66 tothe inside wall 6, thus causing the outside door I 8 to tend to alwaysmove to its closed position.

It is now to be noted that when the treadle 32 is pivotally moveddownwardly from its position as indicated by the full lines 32 to aposition substantially parallel with the bottom wall 8, the latch plate52 will move adjacent and under the plunger 24 to lock the outside doorIn and to prevent its being opened from the outside of the self lockingcontainer A and the building structure and to thus operate the treadle32 in its door locking position, the milk man, delivery man, or similaroperator, will place an object on the treadle 32 which by its weightwill cause the treadle 32 to move downwardly from its normal position.

Figs. 2 and 3 disclose bottles 61 as having been placed on the treadle.32 by themilk man, delivery man or similar operator.

If more than one bottle of milk, such as 61, is to be delivered to theinmate of the building then additional bottles such as 68 or similarcommodities may be placed in the compartment 38 after the outside doorI0 has been opened, it being always necessary, however, to place atleast one bottle 61 or similar unit on the treadle 32 so that when theoutside door I0 is closed the lock mechanism of the container A will beautomatically operated in its self locking operation.

The inmates of the building structure I may readily open the inside doorII to place empty milk bottles in the chamber 30, the treadle 32,however, being left free of any milk bottles 61 or similar commoditiesso that the outside door I8 may be opened, it being understood that theoperator from the outside of the building will always place one or moreof the milk bottles 61 or similar units on the treadle 32 to insure thecontainer A being operated automatically to a self locking position asabove described.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 disclose an alternative construction by means of whicha treadle 69 maybe utilized for automatically operating the self lockingmechanism of my invention.

The treadle 69 is sim ilar to the treadle 32 but is fixedly mounteddirectly on the'crank shaft 18 by means of the hinged brackets 1| whichare suitably secured tgthe underside of the treadle 69 by the screws orrivets 12, the brackets 1| being provided with the bosses 13 which arein turn provided with the bores 14 for fitting over the crank shaft 10,the bosses I3 being secured to the crankshaft I0 by the pins HA.

flange portion which extends upwardly at one side of the flange portionI8, the flange portion 8| having the angularly positioned surface 82 forengaging the upper surface of the treadle 69 to limit it in its maximumuppermost position as disclosed in Fig. 10.

The crank shaft I0 is retained longitudinally in the bores 15 of thebosses I6 of the brackets 11 by a nut 83 at one of its ends and by thecurved end 84 adjacent one side of the bracket 85 which is provided withthe bore 06 for further supporting one end of the crank shaft I0.

The bracket 85 is secured to the bottom wall 8 by the screws 86 whichextend through suitable openings in the flange portions 81 of thebracket 85, each of which is disclosed in detail in Figs. 16 and 1'7.

The crank shaft 10 is disclosed in detail in Fig. 25 and is providedwith the shouldered portion 88 which may extend through the bore 89 ofthe rod 90, the shouldered portion 89 being suitably riveted over toprovide a pivotal connection between the crank shaft 10 and the rod 90.

The rod 90 is disclosed in detail in. Figs. 18 and 19.

The rod 90 is further provided with the bore 9| at its upper end forforming a pivotal connection at 92 with a latch plate I00 which isadapted to be supported by the rivets or screws 62A, in a manner similarto that disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, the latch plate I00 being providedwith the boss 54 for extending behind and engaging the plunger 93 whichis similar to the plunger 24, the plunger 93, however, being providedwith an extension portion 94 which extends within and supports one endof the spring or resilient member 95 which is retained at its other endby the recess 96 of the housing 91 which is secured to the outside doorI0 by the screws or rivets 28.

The plunger 93 is disclosed in its assembled position within the housing91 in Figs. 14 and 15.

Also one of the latch plates I00 is disclosed in Figs. 20, 21 and 22,the latch plate I00 being provided with the arm 98 having a bore 99therethrough for providing a bearing for the pivotal connectiondisclosed at 92.

The treadle 69 is provided with feet or block members IOI which aresuitably secured to the underside of the treadle 69, the feet or blockmembers IOI being constructed of material having resilientcharacteristics such as rubber or similar material, the feet or blockmembers IOI being adapted to engage the upper surface of the bottom wall8 to limit the treadle 69 in its maximum downward movement and toprovide means for supporting the treadle member 69 while it issupporting one or more of the milk bottles 61 or similar units asdisclosed in Figs. 2 and 3.

Also, to normally maintain the treadle 69 in its maximum uppermostposition as indicated in Fig. 10, the spring or resilient member I02comprises a plurality of coils which are mounted around the crank shaft10at points adjacent the inside surfaces of the brackets II, the coilsof the spring member I02 being extended to form the arm I03 whichengages the upper surface of the bottom wall 8, the spring member I02havingits coils further'extended to form the arms I04 which engage theunderside of the treadle 69, the resilient characteristics of the coilsof the spring I02 tending to always force the arms I04 away or in anopposite direction from the opposite arm I03, thus tending to alwaysmaintain the treadle 69 in its maximum uppermost position until thebottles 61 or similar units are placed on the treadle 69 to cause it topivotally move to its maximum downward position in which the feet orblock members IOI will engage the upper surface of the bottom wall 8.

In operation, the inmate of the building structure will open the insidedoor II to place empty milk bottles in the chamber 30 from where theempty milk bottles are to be delivered to the milk man or similardelivery man of similar commodities, the inmate of the buildingstructure, however, taking care not to place any empty milk bottles onthe treadle 32 as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3.

The milk man or delivery man is then free to open the outside door I0which will permit the empty milk bottles 68 to be removed from thechamber 30 and to be replaced by full milk bottles, as indicated at 68in Figs. 2 and 3, the milk man or delivery man taking care also to placea full milk bottle 6'! on the treadle 32 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3to operate the treadle 32 downwardly from its position, as disclosed inFig. 4 to a position adjacent the inner surface of the bottom wall 8which will in turn operate the crank shaft 4| which, together with itsoperatively connected mechanism, will move the latch member 52 upwardlyso that it will extend between the inside surface of the outside door I0and the catch portion of the plunger 24 as disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7 toautomatically lock the outside door I0 against unauthorized or unlawfulopening thereof to remove the milk bottles 68 or similar commodities.

In a similar way the milk bottles or similar commodities are placed onthe treadle 69 which will operate the catch plate I00 to a positionbetween the plunger 93 and the inside surface of the outside door I0 toeliminate unauthorized or unlawful entry into the self locking containerA and removal of the full milk bottles 68 or similar commoditiestherefrom.

I claim:

1. In a self locking container for receiving goods in a buildingstructure and provided with an outside door, the combination of aplunger member movably mounted in said outside door, a catch platemovably mounted in said container and adapted to engage said plungermember and to lock said outside door against unauthorized opening, apair of brackets and each provided with stop bosses, a crankshaftrotatably mounted in said pair of brackets, a treadle pivotally mountedon said crankshaft and adapted to engage said stop bosses of said pairof brackets, said treadle being adapted to be actuated by the placementof said goods thereon, a, resilient member provided with coil portionssurrounding said crankshaft, said resilient member being provided witharms for engaging said treadle and the floor of said container, and arod member pivotally connected between said crankshaft and said catchplate.

2. In a self locking container for receiving 75 a crank arm, a plungermounted on said outside door, a catch plate movably mounted and adaptedto engage said plunger to lock said outside door against unauthorizedopening, said catch plate being provided with a flange, and a rodpivotally connected between said crank arm of said crankshaft and flangeof said catch member.

ALBERT ST. ARNAULD.

